Weaver Law Firm

Vacation? No Problem!

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:06:00 +0000

For most people, the annual two-week respite from work is a chance to get away for a time of relaxation and enjoyment. The day-to-day cares and concerns of the job are put on hold, at least for a little while. Some folks meticulously plan each moment of their vacation, while others simply go on the fly.

For me, as with most lawyers who operate their own firms, vacations are rare and require a considerable amount of planning. Usually, whenever I decide to take a couple of weeks for holiday, I have to block out the time several months in advance. Then, I have to file a notice with the Courts in every lawsuit in which I am involved setting forth the dates upon which I am unavailable and requesting that no hearings or trials are set on any of those dates. Even then, some kind of scheduling problem arises that requires me to make arrangements either to have the scheduled matter attended to by another attorney or to have the matter re-scheduled.

Fortunately, most attorneys are accommodating in scheduling around an opponent's vacation plans. But the time, effort and expense involved in blocking out even a couple of weeks sometimes is immense. And it is for that reason that many lawyers like myself simply don't take a lot of vacation time.

I am less than two weeks away from boarding a plane for Maui. Some months ago, our youngest daughter, with her husband and children, planned a trip to Maui for their annual "R and R". My son-in-law works with the U.S. State Department in Korea, and we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to meet up with them and have a nice vacation with our two youngest granddaughters.

I am looking forward to the trip.

Being self-employed in a professional practice has its benefits. But its biggest drawback is the fact that if I don't work, I don't earn any money. And even if I am not working, staff salaries, rent and other overhead expenses still must be paid. So when I plan a vacation, I have to take into account not only the cost of the trip, but also the loss of income that results from my not being in the office.

I try not to think too much about it, because doing so would only rob me of whatever pleasure I otherwise would derive from the time off in an exotic place.

It's a little easier this time. The thought of having the chance to spend time with Mandy, Gayer, Lily and Maddy makes the time away from work well worth it.

Even so, if it goes the way all of my previous vacations have gone, I will continue to spend considerable time pondering, thinking and worrying about my clients and their legal affairs, and I will stay in touch with my office staff via phone and email.

Aloha!

Reality TV - A Springboard for Has-Beens and Never-Will-Be's

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:08:00 +0000

OK, I'll admit it. I hunker down in front of my television set once a week for 16 weeks to watch Donald Trump's latest offering of "Apprentice", or "Celebrity Apprentice", as the case may be.

Actually, I rather more enjoy watching the "never-will-be's" on "Apprentice" than the has-beens on "Celebrity Apprentice". But the ever-increasing prominence of so-called "reality TV" demands comment.

To begin with, there is very little that is "real" about reality television. Reality stars and contestants are selected with specific criteria in mind. Just as game shows once selected their contestants based on their exuberance, personality and enthusiasm, reality TV producers select their participants based on their propensity and willingness to create, perpetrate and escalate controversy among their "co-stars". And Donald Trump apparently has figured out that his already huge audience would grow even more if the juvenile behavior that often is prevalent in publicly vented but often private personality conflicts is demonstrated by persons of some notoriety.

But like the game shows of old, most of the celebrities ultimately selected for participation either are on the fringes of fame and fortune, or their careers are declining. For the lucky few, like Joan Rivers, the 16-week exposure on network television has rekindled otherwise fading careers. For all of them, the show provided at least a brief return to the spotlight. But the cost in loss of public esteem seems too high.

Who among us has the same opinion of Dionne Warwick after her appearance on last year's Celebrity Apprentice? Who knew that Gary Busey was so weird, or that Meatloaf's temper was so volatile?

One thing is for certain. Those willing to publicly display their character flaws and childish behavior now have a career opportunity in television entertainment not previously available. Fashion designers, models and a host of others now can display not only the best of their work, but their petty jealousies, rivalries and disputes, as well.

I can only imagine what the TV executives will come up with next.

The Myth of "The Tough Lawyer"

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:16:00 +0000

Most individuals and small businesses are in the dark when they seek a lawyer. And with the advent of lawyer advertising in the mass media, the selection process has become even more confusing than it was when lawyer advertising was illegal.

Whether it's negotiating a contract, appearing in Court, or handling a divorce, a substantial number of legal consumers believe that a "tough, aggressive" lawyer is better than one who is not viewed as "tough" or "aggressive". This belief is grounded in the misconception that adjectives such as "bulldog", "tough", "aggressive", or "obdurate" are synonymous with "competence", "knowledge", "skillful" or "effective".

The simple truth is that a "tough lawyer" is not always a "good lawyer". In fact, some of the very best lawyers that I know - and who also are recognized in the profession as being among the best - are attorneys that few would describe as "tough" or "aggressive". Instead, these elite lawyers are ethical, knowledgeable, talented and competent, and they provide solid representation for their clients. The list of such attorneys is a long one, and includes lawyers with whom I have been associated and against whom I have battled in Court.

But in my profession, like most others, the public's perception of a practitioner's reputation is what gets a prospective client in the door. And too many attorneys spend thousands of dollars advertising their aggressiveness (carefully, I might add, to avoid disciplinary action by the State Bar) while lacking the legal skills to deliver the best representation.

So what can a legal consumer do to improve his or her chances of hiring the right lawyer for the right job? It takes a little effort, but the effort is worth it.

First, the legal consumer can access attorney peer review ratings and client reviews by consulting professional websites like www.lawyers.com. Additional information about an attorney, including information about any previous disciplinary actions, can be obtained at the State Bar of Texas website, www.texasbar.com. Finally, seeking a referral to an attorney by a family member, friend or business associate who has had previous experience with the attorney is useful, as well.

This article is not intended to criticize or deride any attorney who uses the public media for advertising. Many attorneys who advertise in the media are competent in their areas of expertise. Rather, the purpose of this article is to encourage individuals and small businesses to avoid relying solely upon the public perception of the professional reputation of a lawyer in choosing legal representation.

When selecting a lawyer, do your homework. You will be glad you did.

On Being My Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:33:00 +0000

Begging your pardon for my bias, I am not exaggerating when I say that my wife is one of the most naturally gifted and talented people that I know. Only lack of ambition and a hidden shyness (although she is very extroverted among friends and acquaintances) have prevented the general public from being aware of her many and varied talents.

In addition to her day job working for my firm as office manager on a part time basis, she is an ordained clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, serving as Deacon at St. Alban's in Arlington, and as of last night, she is vice-president of our Homeowners' Association. When she isn't handling the business affairs of my law firm, or performing her ministry in the Church, or dealing with the varied responsibilities required to maintain the integrity of our Homeowners' Association, she is producing commercial quality clothing, knitting complex patterns on blankets and other items she is creating, or visiting with our daughter and granddaughters in Korea on Skype. I have yet to see her do anything that she did not do very well.

Her days are a full 24 hours long, but with all of what she puts into them, they seem much longer.

And so, on this Valentine's Day of 2012, I dedicate this brief post to my wife, the Reverend Nancy S. Weaver. Sometimes crude, sometimes politically incorrect, sometimes funny, and sometimes deadly serious. But always compassionate and always delightful.

Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart!

Doo-Doo, Fire Drills & The Joy of Being a Grandpa

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:35:00 +0000

The best thing about being Grandpa to eight kids ranging in age from 13 years to three months is the chance to be a spectator of their lives.

As a parent, I must have been so busy raising my daughters and trying to get ahead that I either didn't have the time or take the time to really watch as they grew up. I just woke up one day and realized that they were all grown up. So I vowed to not let that happen with my grandchildren.

And with some of the antics they have provided, I have not been disappointed.

For example, my 22-month old granddaughter Lily is beginning to develop a vocabulary and is learning all sorts of new words. She still needs a little work on pronunciation for some of them, but she pronounces "doo-doo" perfectly. Not only that, she knows what it is! It might not seem very funny until you hear a 22-month-old say it. It causes me a chuckle just thinking about it.

My granddaughter Lizzie (who is now 8 years old) came home from school one day after a fireman had given her class a demonstration and casually asked her mom to "set my leg on fire". My daughter quite naturally was taken aback by this request and inquired as to its purpose. In her matter-of-fact way, Lizzie replied, "I want to practice my stop, drop and roll."

Hayley, who is 11 going on 21, has discovered boys. Lucy, who also is 11, told her pre-school graduating class that she wanted to be "an ice cream man" when she grows up. Five-year-old Samantha, who started kindergarten this year, simply did not understand why she was required to go to school every day.

Annabelle hit her terrible twos in January, and she would rather "work" at "Gop-paw's" office than anything else. Lucy, my other 11-year-old, quietly manipulates her little sister and her cousins into trouble while she remains mysteriously aloof and unaffected. Maddy, at three months, has discovered the skill of manipulation by being selective in giving a simple smile.

And Matthew, the 13-year-old patriarch of this motley crew, has become "king of the misfits". It seems that all of the nerdy, non-cool boys at his school and in his neighborhood have gravitated toward him, and he leads them in some of the most imaginative and creative "games" that I have seen.

All in all, it's been a joyous and wonderful experience for me. And every day I wait to see or hear about the ongoing adventures of these remarkable kids.

Setting Priorities

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:31:00 +0000

I attend Church nearly every Sunday, and I confess that there are too many times when I don't pay enough attention to the message that my priest delivers in his sermon. But on those occasions when I do pay attention, I almost always hear something useful and inspiring. And sometimes, what strikes me the most is an idea that is not even central to the message that the priest is sending.

A good example of this occurred this past Sunday, when Fr. Joe Scalisi made what many may have considered to be a rather off-hand remark during the preface to his sermon. He said, "What we choose to do with our lives is a direct reflection of what we believe life is all about." I had heard this theme presented in other ways on several occasions, but I never heard it put in such an all-encompassing and comprehensive fashion.

It caused me to think about what I have done with my life. More importantly, it caused me to consider, based on what I have done with my life, what I must believe life to be all about. It was a revealing and not altogether complimentary exercise.

Up until the past dozen years or so, I devoted my life to the pursuit of money, prestige and temporal pleasures. I wanted to accumulate enough wealth do whatever I believed that I needed to do in order to satisfy my desire for comfort and pleasure. Not much else mattered, unless some pleasurable experience could be derived from it.

Even during the past few years, I have found myself from time to time slipping back into this selfish pattern. But my priorities have changed over the years, and although I still recognize the value of earning a living, I have learned that there is more value in contributing to life than in taking from it.

Setting priorities and deciding "what life is all about" has been an ongoing process for me, and my concept of what is most important in life has changed over the years. In evaluating what I have done with my life in recent years, I have discovered that the things that matter most to me involve first my relationship with God and family, followed closely by my intense desire to make a difference in the lives of those people who come to me seeking professional help.

I still fall into some of the old selfish habits that marred my younger years. However, as long as I remember to pay close attention to those Sunday sermons, I can be reminded of what I really believe to be important and what I really believe life to be all about.

It's a Matter of Personal Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:43:00 +0000

About 27 years ago, I made a decision to leave a large, prestigious law firm where I represented several very large corporate clients to open my own law firm. I was motivated not only by the idea of becoming the master of my own fate by becoming self-employed, I wanted to practice the kind of law that would make a difference in the lives and fortunes of the people and the small to medium sized businesses that I represented.

I admit that there have been times when I thought that I regretted that decision, especially when my bank account was on life support. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with the decision that I made.

Being self-employed in a professional practice has taught me more about personal responsibility than I ever could have learned otherwise. The first hard lesson about personal responsibility was learned when I woke up one morning shortly after I had resigned my position at my previous employer and realized that I was facing a substantial debt and could no longer count on a substantial paycheck like the one that I had been receiving from my employer.

If I was to feed my family and to pay my bills, it was up to me to find clients who would pay me for my time and professional services. At times the learning curve was steep, but necessity forced me to learn about marketing my legal services, which was required in order to attract my clients. And I was driven by necessity to achieve results that my clients expected.

By most accounts, it can be said that I have managed to build a substantial and successful law practice over the past 27 years. Whatever success I have achieved was possible only because I realized from the beginning that it was up to me and me alone to do what was required to succeed.

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes, and my physician informed me that I needed to adjust my lifestyle and diet. My doctor could tell me what I needed to do, but it was up to me to do it. During the past year, the lifestyle and diet changes that I made have resulted in the loss of 60 to 70 pounds, and my latest laboratory tests indicate that my diabetes is well under control

Space does not permit me to recite the many failures that I have experienced during the past three decades, but for each failure a valuable lesson was learned. And more importantly, those lessons could not have been learned if I had refused to accept personal responsibility for those failures.

Whether facing economic difficulties or relationship problems, each of us can achieve our goals by recognizing that we are personally responsible for how we react and respond to life's challenges. We cannot always control what happens to us, but we alone are responsible for how we deal with the events of our lives. Recognizing our personal responsibility is the first step toward acquiring the courage and skill necessary to create happy and productive lives for ourselves.

It's up to you. It's up to me. It's a matter of personal responsibility.

Better Late Than Never

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:29:00 +0000

I never have been the "first on my block" to find out about or to do anything. And being naturally independent and rebellious, I seldom was one for jumping onto anybody's bandwagon, if for no other reason than to avoid being called a "Johnny-come-lately".

But there are certain fads and trends that I simply have been unable to side-step, foremost among them during my lifetime has been the personal computer and the Internet.

When I began my journalism career, I wrote news stories on an old-fashioned Royal typewriter. When my newspaper employer entered the electronic age and installed IBM Selectric typewriters, I purchased my old Royal for $25.00. I still have it (almost 40 years later), and it is still in good working condition. I had begun my legal career before my newspaper moved to the next level of technology by installing word processing.

At the dawn of my legal career, lawyers conducted legal research among the thousands of volumes of books and treatises in a law library, which at most firms required a full-time law librarian just to keep the constant supply of supplemental material current. Now, legal research is performed online, and many more resources are available from online legal libraries than what ever could have been maintained in even the most extensive traditional law library.

In addition, our legal secretaries were required to type our pleadings, correspondence and other documents on electric typewriters, some of which were equipped with "mag-cards" for those documents with established templates requiring only that the blanks be filled in. After a couple of years, the firm where I was employed as a young associate purchased word processors, and from that point the days of carbon paper and clicking typewriters going at 120+ words per minute were numbered.

In 1985, when I first opened my own law practice, I purchased my first computer (for almost $7,000.00), to be used exclusively by my secretary for word processing purposes, because word processing was about the only function that the computer had and certainly was the only function anyone in my office knew how to access and operate.

By the late 1980s, personal computers became more affordable, and the Internet began to gain some traction. A couple of young men, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, had begun development of software programs and operating systems that ultimately would make cyberspace and computer operations available to everyone - even me.

Fast-forwarding to 2012, I can say only that the past 30 years have been a technological whirlwind. Internet advertising and marketing have moved to the forefront for nearly every service industry in the country. Social media sites are beginning to play a huge role in the marketing of goods and services. The development of IP services able to transmit voice and image, such as Skype, have brought distant friends and family closer together. Thanks to this technology, I don't have to wait months (or sometimes years) before seeing two of my grandchildren who currently are residing in Korea and who will be moving to Eastern Europe this summer.

But the technological revolution has had a darker side, as well. New crimes, scams and other fraudulent activities have found a home on the Internet. Identity theft has become a major problem, and an entirely new industry has been developed to provide protection against it.

My wife is fond of saying that I was dragged into the 20th century kicking and screaming, but not before the beginning of the 21st century. I am just now getting used to the 20th century, but I hope to see you all soon in the 21st century.

Beam me up, Scotty.

More Than Just a Name

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:04:00 +0000

I have been known by many names.

My wife and step-daughter call me "Bear", probably because of my ability to grow a lot of hair everywhere except on my head. My daughters call me "Daddy". My golfing buddies call me "The Weave". My brothers call me "Bub" or "Bubba", and my mother calls me "Son". Some of my social and business friends call me "R. David", while others call me simply "David". Most of my clients refer to me as either "Mr. Weaver" or "Attorney Weaver", and in a couple of cases, "Dr. Weaver" (after all, most lawyers do hold doctoral degrees, although we seldom use the title).

But the widest variety of names by which I have been called has originated with my grandchildren. I remember that before my grandson was born almost 14 years ago, I gave considerable thought to how I would like for him to refer to me. Having never arrived at a final decision, I simply allowed him to call me whatever he chose to call me, and I have followed that tradition with all of my grandchildren who came after him. As a result, I have been known by names ranging from "Pop-Paw" to "BamPaw" to "Gamp-Paw" to "Grandpa".

Coming from the mouths of my grandchildren, the words are music to my ears, regardless of the name by which they call me.

The name by which others refer to us is one of the most important ingredients of what constitutes our own self-image. Hence, when we engage in "name-calling" of our enemies or opponents, we are engaging in a form of combat designed to injure that person's image of himself.

Our names are of critical importance to us. Being a former journalist, I learned firsthand how folks react when their names are misspelled in public media. It is an old saying and an axiom among publicist: "Say what you may about me, but be sure to spell my name correctly."

Moreover, a good name logically suggests a good reputation. History is replete with examples of those who have gone to great lengths to protect or restore their good names (and, hence, their reputations).

Clearly, a name is more than a label. The names by which we are known say much about who we are, what we do and the relationships we have with our fellows. And although we all are a single person, the names we are called reflect that we are people of many characteristics, traits, relationships and abilities.

Happy New Year - One Day at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:19:00 +0000

Ah, the New Year. It's that arbitrarily selected day on the calendar when we all feel like we are getting a fresh start. A time when we can put the past behind us and begin anew, hoping to avoid the mistakes of the previous 12 months by resolving to do better. But the problem with New Year's resolutions is that they require us to change our behaviors in order to accomplish those things we have resolved to accomplish. And researchers tell us that up to 90 percent of the resolutions we make on New Year's Day have been abandoned before the end of January.

What if every day was New Year's Day? What if, every time we wake up in the morning, we can have the sensation of a new beginning that the new day brings that encourages us to learn from the previous day's mistakes, put them behind us and then resolve not to repeat them just for the day ahead?

As a poker player, most of the serious mistakes I have seen made by players (and at times have made, myself) occur when a player who has been losing tries to "get even". This impulse will cause a player to make unprofitable decisions, usually resulting in increasing his losses and resulting in still poorer play in later hands. One of the world's best poker players once provided me with a valuable suggestion to avoid falling victim to this downward spiral. He said, "Remember, you are even at the beginning of each hand that is dealt. Every hand is a new game, and what happened before that is history."

The same can be said in every area of my life, whether professional, personal or financial. Although there certainly are consequences that must be faced and endured as a result of my mistakes, those consequences and the mistakes of the past that led to them do not have to negatively affect the way in which I conduct myself today.

If I have a New Year's resolution to make, it is that I resolve to treat every new day as if it is New Year's Day. I will try to learn from my past mistakes, and more importantly, I will try to remember that if I continue to do what I always have done, I will get what I always have gotten. And if I want to achieve a different result (whether it's losing weight, acquiring more wealth, becoming a better person, etc.), I cannot succeed unless I do something different. With the beginning of each day, I have a chance to try something new in order to achieve what I want to achieve.

With that in mind, I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year, and more to the point, have a Happy New Day!

Making Christmas Memories

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:36:00 +0000

I love the Christmas season. As the old song goes, "it's the most wonderful time of the year!"

This has been an especially joyous Christmas, as I welcomed my eighth grandchild on November 7. Our youngest daughter, Mandy, came home from Korea (where my son-in-law works for the U.S. State Department) in September to have the baby, and we have had the pleasure of having her (along with the baby and the 20-month-old "big sister") staying with us. I will be very sad to see them leave on New Year's Eve, although I know that they are anxious to get back to their own home.

Our neighborhood is awash in Christmas lights and decorations, and the annual parade of cars driving through the neighborhood to view the sights has begun. I am almost through with my Christmas shopping, and we have just begun wrapping the gifts. And I am beside myself with excitement and anticipation of our Christmas celebration this weekend with all four of my daughters and all eight of my grandchildren.

Normally, I don't like crowds and I detest shopping, but I always seem to get carried away by the Christmas spirit when shopping with my wife for Christmas gifts. I love the hustle and bustle of the season and the sights and smells that are uniquely connected with Christmas.

There are some who might be expecting me to insert at this point a reminder of the "real meaning of Christmas". But I am going to leave that task to others. It seems as though those who would presume to remind us of the "true meaning of Christmas" would prefer that we temper our celebration of the season, suggesting that the joy we experience in the shopping, decorating and gift giving is somehow unseemly or in some way disregards the "reason for the season".

Christmas is a time of celebration. It is a time for me to be grateful for my family, friends, colleagues and clients. And it is a time for me to celebrate the greatest gift the world has ever known -- the birth of Christ.

It truly is "the most wonderful time of the year!"

Becoming a Better Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:46:00 +0000

I just had a birthday. In my younger days, my birthday was cause for celebration of what I believed would be an exciting future. However, I recently have begun to use the occasion to reflect upon my past and the many turning points in my life, all culminating in the who and what I have come to be. Although I still look to an exciting future still to be experienced, I do so with greater circumspection, realizing that I cannot disregard or dismiss my past if I am to fully engage in my future.

My law school dean and mentor, the late and legendary Angus S. McSwain, once said that human character is built up of the innumerable and apparently insignificant choices a person must make in the course of a lifetime. "It is not the work of a minute, or a week, or a year," he said. "The going is rough. But every day, as we make decisions that seem small and unimportant, we are fitting together the pieces of the pattern which will show the picture of our real self."

As I reflect upon those choices that I have made in my life which seemed at the time to be small and insignificant, the result of their cumulative effect is humbling, and I am bound to acknowledge the fact that God has used my choices - even those improvidently and unwisely made - to place me in a position to be of service to Him and to His people. And I must admit that I never intended to design a plan for my life that would place me in the position in which I now find myself. My plan was to create for myself a certain level of financial security. Rich and famous would have been nice, but I was willing to settle for "comfortable". The thought of being of any meaningful service to God and to His people never entered my mind.

When I decided that I would become a lawyer, I labored under the common misconception that all lawyers are wealthy, and although many of us earn above-average incomes, the truth is that lawyers are no different from most people who are trying to make a living. Although I have been blessed with what some might call "success" in my career, I have undergone many of the same struggles experienced by many others - mostly due to my many improvident and unwise decisions that I previously mentioned.

The miracle is that the struggles I have experienced have been the instrument by which I discovered that there is more to life than acquiring wealth and financial security. That is not to say that financial security is an unworthy goal. Instead, my quest for it must be tempered by my acknowledgment of the fact that I am under a greater obligation to seek and do what I believe God would have me do, and that performing His work should be my first priority. And when my priorities are properly placed, I find fulfillment that transcends any financial security that I might achieve through the accumulation of wealth.

I must admit that I still struggle with the almost overpowering compulsion to try to increase my own wealth. But as the birthdays come and go, and as these times of reflection are put to good use, I am becoming much better at recognizing and doing that which I am called to do, and as I improve upon that, I become a much better lawyer.

R. David Weaver

October Baseball in Texas!

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:54:00 +0000

College and professional football have made their customary annual Fall invasion upon the television screen, but I have not forgotten that there is another game in town -- Playoff Baseball. Regardless of how the Rangers fare this post-season, they still are my team, just as they have been my team since arriving here in 1972.

I last held season tickets to the Rangers in the late 1980s at old Arlington Stadium, but I found that I was unable to attend all of the home games, myself, and during those years, tickets to the Rangers games were not easy to give away. Now, with the Rangers in their "new" Ballpark, season tickets are a luxury that I just cannot afford!

Fortunately, I have some very good friends who have access to tickets (season and otherwise), and, knowing my fondness of the game, they generously provide me with seats to enough games each year to keep my baseball addiction in check. One of my good friends even made it possible for me to attend the second home playoff game on October 1 against Tampa Bay.

For next year, I am seriously considering looking into one of the multi-game packages that the Rangers began offering some time ago, but even at that, the investment will be rather substantial, and I likely would have to curtail some of my other "recreational expenses" to afford it.

Generous friends who have shared their tickets with me, and the fact that I have a business that affords me the chance to at least consider purchasing a season package (albeit a "mini-package"), cause me to pause and be grateful for the blessings that I have been given.

So today, I give thanks to God, to my family and to my special friends for bestowing upon me so many of the blessings that now shape and form the fabric of my life.

GO RANGERS!

Saying "Goodbye" is Never Easy

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:38:00 +0000

I was once told by Al Dewlen, an award winning and best selling novelist, that a writer must have something worthwhile to say before he sets pen to paper and commences to write. Over the years, he told me many things -- mostly useful and often hilarious.

Early yesterday morning, this remarkable man -- who happened to be my stepdad -- died.

So, after many months of not posting on this forum, I finally have something to say. But what I have to say is very difficult, because it is my farewell to a man who has meant so much to my mother, to me and to my family.

I could begin my farewell by reciting his literary works, including those best-sellers that were made into major motion pictures during the early sixties.

Or, I could mention the heroic death of his son and my step-brother, Marine Lt. Michael Dewlen, which spawned his widely read and courageous Reader's Digest feature article that led to some of the most horrific and debased hate mail that a writer ever received.

I could mention his own service in the Marine Corps during World War II, when he and four other of his fellow Marines were charged with supervising 30,000 Japanese soldiers who had surrendered in China, and about how he spent more than two years in the Pacific Theater during the war without sleeping a single night indoors.

And, for the first time, I could mention his meritorious service with the Central Intelligence Agency and for which he was awarded one of the highest honors given by that institution.

I could talk about his early newspaper career, when he oversaw the growth of the daily newspaper in Amarillo from a publication with a very small circulation to one of the most influential newspapers in the state.

I could mention his devotion to Baylor University (my own alma mater), and speak of the generous monetary contributions that he made to the school and its athletic programs. To say how much would be bragging, so I will defer, as he would have wished.

But all of that is the stuff for a newspaper article reporting the passing of a public figure. This is personal. Even though I am no spring chicken, myself, I have lost my stepdad, and I loved, admired and respected him.

Some years ago, Al met my widowed mother on a blind date. And although they were mature, level-headed people, they almost immediately fell in love, and within three weeks they were married. I never before saw couple so much in love. And they did everything together. My daughter, Erin, described the relationship better than perhaps I could describe it. She said, "Al and grandma were soul mates." And indeed they were.

With no disrespect toward any of their former spouses, including my own father, I believe that I can say with some confidence that Al and my mother shared a love, companionship and mutual respect that they never before had experienced with anyone else.

And so, with the fondest of memories that will remain with me for the rest of my life, I now say, "Farewell, Dad."

That Reminds Me . . .

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Thirty-seven years ago, a chain-smoking, skinny young man with a deep voice that didn't seem to match the body from which it spoke, was stalking the halls of the McLennan County Courthouse in Waco, Texas, waiting for the jury to return a verdict in the first capital murder trial held in Texas after the Legislature passed what was then the new capital murder statute in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the old statute was unconstitutional. As news reporters often did at such times and under such circumstances, he joined in exchanging crude jokes with his colleagues, laughing out loud and creating echos in the cavernous rotunda on the third floor of the old Courthouse.

I was one of those news reporters loitering in the hallway outside the 54th District Court that day, and it was the first time I remember meeting Wayne Claiborne. At the time, Wayne was reporting for radio station WACO, and together with the always present Mr. Ball from Channel 10 (the passing years have caused me to forget his first name), the three of us yakked it up for some time as we waited for the jury to return with its verdict. Ultimately, the jury would return a verdict that would set in motion the execution of the Defendant, who previously had been convicted of the senseless and brutal shooting death of a convenience store clerk during a robbery which netted the Defendant less than $50.00.

A Facebook report informed me that Wayne passed away this week, reportedly penniless and almost forgotten. But not completely forgotten.

It is odd that only about two weeks ago, I was thinking about Wayne, Ball, and local radio reporter and later Justice of the Peace David Pareya, and all of the good times we had at the dawn of the disco era in Central Texas when we reported on the political
goings on in McLennan County and around the state.

Ultimately, the four of us went our separate ways. Wayne moved on to Channel 10, where he was a familiar face to thousands of Central Texans for several years. Ball finally retired, but I never found out what happened to him afterward. Pareya entered politics and was elected Justice of the Peace in West, a small Czech community just north of Waco. And I went to law school, and after graduation moved to Arlington.

We were young (except Ball, whom the rest of us thought was an old man in his 40s at the time), and we were idealistic and ambitious. We got to meet a lot of pretty famous people, and in reporting on the events of our time, we became somewhat minor celebrities, ourselves.

I always have thought that my years as a newspaper reporter were some of the best of my life. The job always was new and exciting. The times often were turbulent and filled with historically significant events (although we usually were unaware of the historical significance of the events at the time).

It is easy to forget those who briefly share the remote snapshots of our lives, and sometimes it takes the passing of one of those people to bring these almost forgotten pictures back into focus. I am grateful for my brief friendship with Wayne and for the times that we had together.

Wayne Claiborne may have died without a lot of worldly possessions, but he did not die forgotten.

July Blazes By

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:13:00 +0000

They say that time passes much more swiftly when one is busy (and as one gets older).

July was a whirlwind for me, both at home and at the office, and when I blinked twice, it was gone. The dog days of August in North Texas are upon us, and although we had quite a bit of unexpected rain during July, Mother Nature is back to her old self and is hurling triple-digit high temperatures.

Beginning on the first of July, I re-organized my office by permitting the attorneys who formerly were employees to move into what we call in the legal profession "of counsel" positions. By doing so, the attorneys have the opportunity to determine their own professional and financial destinies, and so far, I am pleased with the results. The value of this type of association is that all of the attorneys (myself included) continue to have the benefit of being a part of a larger group while maintaining his or her autonomy. We still have some wrinkles to iron out, but I am optimistic that our thriving practices will continue to flourish.

As I indicated earlier, July was an extremely busy month. Like many attorneys who are engaged in a commercial practice, I normally have two or three major client matters pending at any given time; however, I now find myself with no less than half a dozen pieces of major commercial litigation involving in excess of $100 million. Added to that are the dozens of families who are relying upon me to assist them in obtaining debt relief in bankruptcy and in attempting to restore their financial health.

And I wonder why it is sometimes hard to sleep at night.

One of my strengths as an attorney, which at the same time is a fault for a healthy human being, is that the problems and concerns of my clients never leave my mind. I find myself thinking about my clients and ways to help them solve their legal problems during the vast majority of my waking hours. Even when I take the rare vacation or when I make short trips out of town to attend a seminar or to participate in a poker game, these client issues never leave my mind.

On the one hand, I wish I had the ability to "leave it at the office", but I know that if I did so, I would not be the lawyer that I have become. And it is that lawyer whom my clients have retained to help them. I don't want to let them down.

Although the hectic pace of the past month has been tiring, I am looking forward to the challenges that will present themselves in August. These are challenging times for a lot people, and I want to be prepared to help as many of them as possible.

Until next time...

R. David Weaver
THE WEAVER LAW FIRM, P.C.
1521 N. Cooper St., Suite 710
Arlington, TX 76011
(817) 460-5900
rdweaver@weaverlawfirm.net

The Rain is Nice, But . . .

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:11:00 +0000

It's been more than a month since my last post, and I am not quite sure whether it's because I haven't had much to say, or whether I have been so busy that I haven't taken the time to write anything.

Most might suggest that the former is the true reason.

Whether or not I have had anything worthwhile to say, I certainly cannot claim that nothing much has been going on. To the contrary, so much has been going on lately that I hardly know where to start. So I'll begin with the obvious: It rained buckets this afternoon in North Arlington. I know this not only because I could see it through my seventh-floor office window, but because (typically) I left the windows on my Chevy Tahoe open.

It rained so much that water had thoroughly soaked my fabric-covered seats, and when I got home from the office, the seat of my pants were so wet that it looked like I had taken lessons from Annabelle and Lily (my six-month and four-month old granddaughters) on how to score a new set of clothes. Not only did I have to change trousers, my underwear was soaked, and I was forced to don a clean pair (and it's not even Saturday!).

But the worst of it is my garage door opener, which I leave in a compartment on the driver's side front door (just below the open window). A puddle of water had gathered in the compartment and almost submerged my garage door opener. I am hoping that a change of battery and a good drying out will render it workable again.

Youngest daughter Mandy and her husband, Gayer, are back in Korea. Mandy had come home to deliver her baby, and on June 4, she and the baby boarded a plane for the long trip to the other side of the world. Nancy accompanied them and stayed for two weeks, so it was just me, the dogs, the cat and the fish left behind to guard the homestead.

It was a long and lonely two weeks, especially after having Mandy here for almost five months. Gayer was here for the month of April, and Lily was here from the time she was born.

Business at the law firm is brisk, especially on the financial rehabilitation front. The troubled economy is placing a large number of really good people in harm's way from a financial standpoint. More and more of them are responding to our offer to provide meaningful assistance in these difficult times.

It's odd. I often hear the President and his aides telling us that the economy is getting better and stronger, but I just don't see much evidence of it. Of course, politicians are adept at telling us what they think we want to hear.

I wonder if anyone other than me would like to hear the truth, as opposed to more sugar-coated political rhetoric.

On a less serious note, my beloved Baylor Bears will remain in the Big 12 (now 10) Athletic Conference, at least for now. Something about a "political tsunami", according to the Pac 10 Commissioner, who was trying to recruit the big state schools for his grandiose vision of a super 16-team conference.

My alma mater may not be able to field a national champion football team, but we do produce some pretty loyal and well-connected graduates. Besides, Baylor is very competitive in all of the other collegiate sports. So those conference commissioners with dreams of snagging UT, A&M and Tech for their conferences would do well to consider mild and meek Baylor, as well. After all, the Good Book says that the meek will inherit the Earth, and the events over the past couple of months may provide evidence of that fact.

Signing off for now. Meanwhile, keep it between the lines and be careful out there.

R. David Weaver

A Day of Remembrance

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:24:00 +0000

I never had a chance to meet him, because his father married my mother years after he died, but they called him a "baby killer". He was reviled, ridiculed and slandered by many of his countrymen. But he never heard the calumnies and the insults, because by the time the letters containing them were delivered to his parents' home, he already had been buried following a military funeral.

In the pre-dawn hours of July 7, 1968, at a remote outpost near the Cambodian border, the 24-year-old officer was in charge of an artillery battery whose job it was to cut off an escape route into Cambodia that was being used by North Vietnamese forces. An NVA unit of vastly superior numbers launched a surprise attack on the position being occupied by elements of the 12th Marines. Rousing from sleep, the young officer rallied his men and engaged in close combat with the enemy. After dispatching up to 24 enemy soldiers while reversing the direction of his artillery unit, the officer was cut down by fire from a Russian-made AK-47. However, his quick and decisive action in re-positioning his artillery resulted in successfully repelling the enemy attack, with only 15 American casualties (including himself) and saving the lives of many of his comrades.

He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry.

His father, who served with the Marines in the Pacific during World War II, grieved the only way he knew how. His father was a writer, so he wrote a moving and thought-provoking article about his son for Reader's Digest. After the piece was published, a flood of hate mail flowed into his father's mailbox. Three years later, still grieving the death of his only child, the father used the hate mail as the backdrop for a new novel, Next of Kin. Although no longer in print, the book can be found in many bookstores and online, and it tells the poignant story of the nation's confusion and division concerning Vietnam that was prevalent at the time.

Today is Memorial Day. I urge all who view this to join me in remembering those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country, especially the more than 58,000 who did so during a very unpopular war and who, rather than being honored, were reviled by their countrymen.

As has been said by many who have experienced combat, the only true heroes are those who didn't make it back.

Today I remember with honor and deep appreciation my step-brother, 2d Lt. Michael Lee Dewlen. And although I never got to meet him, I am proud to call him my brother.

R. David Weaver

P.S. -- If you are interested in reading his father's book, you likely can find it by Googling "Al Dewlen" and going to one of the sites that offer his work.

RDW

The Day I Became a Father

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:37:00 +0000

It was a harrowing 36-hour period. Shortly after midnight May 24, 1972, a young girl was abducted during a hold-up at a Waco 7-Eleven store, and as a reporter for the local newspaper, I was called in to cover the story. After the girl was released on the afternoon of May 25, my photographer and I conducted our interview, and copy and photos were turned in near deadline.

After an exhausting day and a half, I got home at about 11:00 p.m. on the 25th. It was a Thursday night, and I had planned to take off on Friday and spend a long Memorial Day weekend catching up on much-needed sleep and relaxation. But before I had settled in for the night, my wife informed me that she believed she was in labor with our first child. Instead of going to bed, we packed up and headed for the hospital.

I had seen enough movies and had watched enough "I Love Lucy" episodes to know that babies are born within two hours after the expectant mother gets to the hospital. So I naturally believed that I only was delaying my bedtime by a few hours, at most.

Movies and television programs do not necessarily reflect life as it often is.

After 19 hours of labor, at exactly 8:00 p.m. on May 26, 1972, Dena Gayle Weaver came into the world, and I became a father.

In those days, fathers were not permitted in the delivery room, so I paced in a traditional waiting room for expectant fathers smoking cigarettes (it was the fashionable thing to do at the time, and hospitals had no problem permitting smoking inside their facilities) and watching people come, have their babies, and leave, wondering all along why it could not have worked that way for me.

When the nurse finally rolled the incubator containing my baby into the waiting room, I was amazed at this creature with its eyes wide open, staring calmly up at a disheveled young man with a silly grin on his weary face.

From that moment, my life was forever changed.

I knew very early that Dena was special. When she was only 5 years old, she already was reading music, playing the piano and composing simple melodies. At that time, I surmised that she would become a famous composer and musician. But I was naive, and I believed that Dena's musical accomplishments at such an early age were due to talent, alone. What I later learned was that Dena has the ability to commit all of her effort and focus to whatever task she undertakes.

She graduated with honors from high school. She then attended Baylor University, graduating in four years with a degree in psychology. Although she wasn't sure what profession she wanted to enter at the time, circumstances brought her into contact with the business world when she accepted a position with a bank. During her time at the bank, she earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration and became a trust officer, handling millions of dollars entrusted to the care of the bank.

When the bank closed its Texas trust operations, she enrolled at Baylor Law School, and after three years, she graduated second in a Baylor law school class comprised of the brightest and best law students in the state.

She is now a third-year securities litigator with a large, multi-national law firm, and she currently is spending her birthday in Houston working on a major case involving billions of dollars and impacting thousands of people worldwide.

To say that I am proud of her is an understatement.

So happy birthday to Dena Weaver, one of the great successes of my life.

R. David Weaver

New Babies, Baptism, Confirmation, Poker & Golf

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:02:00 +0000

It's been about three weeks since I posted, and quite a bit has happened during that time. My two brand new granddaughters are growing like weeds. I am always amazed when a newborn begins to grow, develop a personality and actually becomes a little human being.

I had the singular honor of receiving Lillian's very first smile, and it was a special moment that I never will forget (although Dad, Mom and Nanna were a little jealous). Unfortunately, she and her mother are leaving very soon to return to Korea. Nancy is traveling with them, and for that I am grateful, as the long journey likely would be too much for Mandy to handle alone. I am going to miss them.

Annabelle keeps growing, and she is one of the most even-tempered, happy babies that I ever have seen. She seldom raises a fuss, and she is very quick to give a smile or a giggle to whomever is paying attention to her. She was baptized this past Sunday at her Church, and I was thrilled to be able to witness it. As the minister was holding her in preparation for the baptism, she gazed up at him and gave him a great, big smile.

Grandson Matthew has been attending classes at his Church since January, and this Sunday he is scheduled for confirmation. Matthew is 12 now, and he has grown into quite the young man. I am very proud of him.

While my family continues to grow and prosper, my poker game is on a roller coaster. I love the challenge of playing, and I have enjoyed some success. But just when I think I have figured out the best strategy to employ, I have a session where it seems that nothing works. So far, I still am ahead for the year, and I hope to continue to learn more and become a better player. Maybe some day I will be at the final table at one of those big tournaments playing for a big payday.

My golf game is stuck at a level with which I am entirely dissatisfied. I changed my golf club membership a little over a year ago, and I now am playing at a course that is much more challenging than the course I had spent the past 25 years playing. My handicap mushroomed from 12 to 17, and I am having trouble getting it reduced to where it was.

Meanwhile, I am getting ready for the Bishop Iker Golf Challenge at Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose. It is a beautiful golf course, and I always have enjoyed playing it. The annual charity tournament benefits Camp Crucis, which is a facility owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and I am proud to have been one of the sponsors of this tournament during the past four years or so.

My firm's new financial rehabilitation program is beginning to gain momentum as more and more people come to realize that simply discharging debt in bankruptcy is not enough to begin to build a foundation for permanent financial security. I am optimistic that as the message of hope that my firm is seeking to convey spreads, we will be able to assist more and more families in financial distress.

Until next time,

R. David Weaver

Happy Birthday, Lucy!

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:14:00 +0000

Lucy Clowers and I have a lot in common. Not only am I her proud grandfather, she and I are the only two members of our extended family to be named for movie actors. The "R" in my name is for Ronald, and my mother tells me that she named me after Ronald Reagan (long before he sought any political office), because she thought he was "dreamy". Lucy's mom, my daughter Erica, has been a loyal and avid fan of Lucille Ball since she was a little girl, so when she had her first daughter, she named her Lucy (but I call her "Miss McGillicudy").

Today is Lucy's 10th birthday, and she had planned to celebrate it with a sleep-over with friends last night, followed by a day at Six Flags today. Unfortunately, those plans are having to be postponed, because Lucy has developed an ear infection. Hopefully, she will get to celebrate with her friends in a couple of weeks.

Quiet and unassuming, Lucy carries a presence that is difficult not to notice and admire, although she tries hard to avoid being the center of attention. She is tall, has long shiny brown hair and has wide, expressive eyes. Frankly, she is beautiful, and she likely will break some hearts as she grows older.

Not only is Lucy physically attractive, she is brilliant. She is a consistent straight-A student in school, and she is a dedicated and talented dancer who, along with her cousin Hayley, has excelled in dance competitions in which her dance school has been involved.

So this is for you, Miss McGillicudy. Happy birthday, and get well soon!

Grandpa

Dishonoring Texas History

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Whatever one may think about Texas Aggies (I am a die-hard Baylor man, myself), there is one characteristic about this rather strange group that is admirable -- they are serious about observing and honoring our state's cherished traditions.

Yesterday was San Jacinto Day in Texas. On April 21 of each year, we are called to commemorate Sam Houston's victory over Santa Anna and the Mexican army at San Jacinto, a victory that ended the Texas Revolution and confirmed Texas as an independent nation. Each year, Texas Aggies "muster" in honor of this day, and from what I can tell, they are about the only group that takes a moment to recall the heroes of Texas independence.

For that gesture I am grateful.

March 2 also passed unobserved in most corners of the state. Banks, courthouses and offices were open for business as usual. But March 2 also is a special day in Texas history. It is the date upon which Texas patriots declared their independence from Mexico and gave voice to the revolution that already had begun.

Four days later, on March 6, the Alamo fell. That day was not observed, either.

As a direct descendant of an Alamo defender, I am more than a bit disturbed at the lack of respect shown for our state's history. Texas law requires all public schools to instruct students in Texas history (the only state I know of that makes such a requirement), but it seems as though the lessons are taught but then quickly forgotten.

We observe Cinco de Mayo (Mexico's Independence Day), Martin Luther King Day and Cesar Chavez Day, but we do not observe those special days in Texas history that have played a major role in making us what we are. March 2, 1836; April 21, 1836; and January 1, 1846 (when Texas officially joined the United States, although the Articles of Annexation were adopted some months earlier) are all special days in our history.

I am a native Texan, and my roots are deep in the Heart of Texas. I am proud of my Texas heritage, and I consider myself, along with all of my fellow Texans, to be unique. We are not part of the run-of-the-mill from Iowa, New Jersey, or California. We are Texans! And that makes us special.

Whatever our differing political philosophies may be, it's high time we began to understand and accept the responsibility of our heritage and call upon our elected officials to declare these special days as days of observance.

If you agree, make your voice heard. You can do that by posting or otherwise distributing this blog item or by contacting your State Representative and Congressman.

As succinctly stated in the Baylor University motto, "Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana!"

R. David Weaver

No Longer the Baby - Happy Birthday, Samantha!

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:52:00 +0000

For almost four years, Samantha Clowers enjoyed the distinction, attention and pampering that comes with being the youngest grandchild. Within the past three months, there have been two additions to the family (which exacerbates Grandpa's memory problems, but that's another topic for another day), and "Meetha" has gone from being the youngest to the third youngest -- in other words, the middle of the pack, along with Lizzie, Haley and Lucy.

Today is Samantha's birthday. It occurred on Easter Sunday four years ago, and it could not have been a better time for me. On that particular day, I did not really want to attend Mass (which happens sometimes with me), but I had no good reason not to go -- that is, until I got the call that my daughter, Erica, was headed to the hospital to have her baby. So I got a big break.

Although Samantha no longer is the baby of the family, she shouldn't be underestimated with respect to her attention-getting skills. After all, she had nearly four years within which to perfect the art. She is an expert at melting my heart with her shy smile, and her timing is impeccable when dispensing affection to her Grandpa.

Someday, Meetha may become the CEO of some large enterprise, because she is not the least bit reluctant to let it be known how she thinks things should be done. The acid test is going to be how she reacts to no longer being the baby. So far, by all accounts she has performed well, and I am very proud of her.

This is Samantha's last year in pre-school, and she will be entering the larger and more dangerous world of public school kindergarten next year. If she makes the adjustment there as well as she has adjusted to no longer being the baby, she will do fine.

So happy birthday, Samantha. You are a big girl, now.

Grandpa

Baseball, Bluebonnets & Mortgage Payments

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:45:00 +0000

After an uncommon winter that brought us North Texans a White Christmas and a mid-winter blizzard, spring finally has arrived. Early spring weeds are sprouting on our lawns, and bluebonnets are popping up everywhere. Pollen levels are up, and I have been sneezing my head off.

But the spring season has a darker side. Those of us who pay our property taxes and homeowner's insurance through the mortgage on our homes are receiving the annual escrow analysis notices from our mortgage companies, and for most people, monthly mortgage payments are being increased due to higher insurance costs and property taxes.

Sometimes, mortgage payments increase by several hundred dollars per month.

There is an old saying that nothing is certain but death and taxes (and insurance); however, relief is available if your mortgage payment has increased to the point that you are unable to comfortably service your mortgage and provide for your other cash-flow obligations. Federally sponsored mortgage loan modification programs are available to qualified homeowners that can substantially reduce monthly mortgage payments. For those unable to successfully negotiate a loan modification, other forms of relief also are available.

The good news is that no one must lose his or her home just because the rising cost of taxes and insurance results in a burdensome mortgage payment. So if you or anyone you know is facing a financial crisis due to a sudden increase in mortgage payments, contact me at rdweaver@weaverlawfirm.net.

Solutions are available, so don't allow economic pressures to rob you or your loved ones of your right to enjoy your life.

R. David Weaver

Reflecting on Good Friday

noreply@blogger.com (R. David Weaver) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:36:00 +0000

St. Paul said it for all Christians when he noted that if the resurrection of Jesus is not a literal truth, then we all are fools. Which is why I do not understand those who claim to be Christians and yet proclaim that the "resurrection story" is allegorical.

As an attorney who has litigated hundreds of lawsuits over a career spanning nearly 30 years, I am conditioned to examine the evidence. So, what is the evidence that this resurrection event occurred?

According to the only written record extant, more than 500 eyewitnesses reported seeing and interacting with a man who had been executed and entombed days earlier but who was clearly alive and well. There is no known record or testimony from even a single witness that the executed man's corpse was seen in the tomb after those eyewitnesses reported seeing him alive. And since reports of the resurrection must have caused a stir among the Roman civil authorities and the Jewish religious authorities, one must assume that if there was some evidence that the resurrection did not occur (as reported by these 500 eyewitnesses), there would be some record of it.

Still, it is beyond my human understanding to simply buy in to the resurrection of Christ, because everyone knows that, even with ultra-modern medical technology, human beings do not become alive after they have been dead for three days.

So it boils down to faith. It becomes a choice. Do I choose to believe? Or do I choose to rely upon my limited human understanding and buy the allegory argument?

At the close of the Maundy Thursday service last night, as the Altar was being stripped and the 22nd Psalm was being chanted, Christ's crucifixion and resurrection once again was made real to me. And when I reflect upon what He did on this day nearly 2,000 years ago, I understand that "God so loved the world..."

I pray that you have a meaningful Good Friday and a joyous and triumphant Easter.

R. David Weaver